Over 1,600 apartment buildings in Chisinau will switch to a horizontal heat distribution system and metering will be carried out individually. Consumers in these blocks will be able to turn on and off the supply of heat in apartments and to independently regulate energy consumption. Parliament ratified the Loan Agreement between the Republic of Moldova and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), IPN reports.

The loan totals €143.5 million and represents 44% of the total value of the "Optimization of the Centralized Heating System in Chisinau Municipality” project. The money will be offered in three installments.

In addition to the installation of 2,510 Individual Heat Points and the transition of 1,665 residential blocks to a horizontal heat distribution system, 57 pilot projects are to be implemented. These involve the thermal insulation of the selected blocks and installation of horizontal distribution systems inside apartments.

In addition, the primary thermal energy networks will be rehabilitated and two new pumping stations will be built, ensuring the efficiency of the city's thermal energy supply. It is estimated that about 300,000 homes in the capital city will benefit from this project.

According to the authorities, the installation of Individual Heat Points will reduce expenses by about 10%, while the integration of an internal horizontal distribution system will generate reductions of about 30%. At the same time, consumers will have the opportunity to regulate their heat consumption, adapting it to their thermal comfort needs and financial capabilities.

The “Optimization of the Centralized Heating System in Chisinau Municipality” project has a total budget of €326 million. The EBRD loan will be matched by a parallel €143.5 million loan from the European Investment Bank, as well as investment grants of €24.5 million from the European Union’s Neighborhood Investment Program, and €15 million from the Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Program (E5P).